Method and apparatus for bending tubing

ABSTRACT

A compact portable tube bender for providing predetermined offsets in the tubing and comprising a support having a tube bender shoe mounted thereon for receiving the tubing section, and having a pivotal lever with another bender shoe mounted thereon for applying pressure to the tubing for bending it into said predetermined offset configuration. An adjustable stop means is provided for indicating when the desired offset in the tubing has been accomplished.

O United States Patent [151 3,691,8 1 s Deacon I [451 Sept. 19, 1972 [54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR 1,354,448 9/1920 Walt ..72/458 BENDlNG TUBING FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Lawrence A. Deacon, 2829 Joseph parkway, Brunswick, Ohio 4 2 2 1,003,969 3/1952 France. ..72/3 89 D 271,689 3/1966 Australia ..72/389 [22] Filed: July 13, 1970 [211 App! d 54,100 Prirnary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham ASSISMH! Exammer-f-Michael J. Keenan Attorney-Baldwin, Egan, Walling & Fetzer [52] US. Cl. ..72/458, 72/293, 72/389 [51] Int. Cl. ..B2lj l3/08 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search ..72/389, 459, 458, 460, 293,

A compact portable tube bender for providing 72/318, 321, 369

predetermined-offsets m the tubmg and comprising a [56] References Cited support having a tube bender shoe mounted thereon for receiving the tubmg section, and having a pivotal UNITED STATES PATENTS lever with another bender shoe mounted thereon for applying pressure to the tubing for bending it into said 2,366,0l2 l2/l944 Draper et al predetermined offset configuration. An adjustable l,859,406 5/1932 Melghan ..72/459 p means is provided for indicating when the desired l,598,5 l 3 8/l926 Terhaar ..72/458 offset in the tubing has been accomplished 1,749,476 3/1930 Fillmore ..72/458 1,261,849 4/1918 Permar ..72/458 11 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTED E 3.691.815

sum 1 or 2 I NVENTOR BgAWR ENCE A. DEACON ATTORNEYS PATENTED SEP 19 m2 SHEET 2 BF 2 w 6 we W m? M M A v .v m mu 6 FIG.7

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BENDING TUBING This invention relates to a, tube bending mechanism and a method for bending tubing, and more particularly to a lightweight portable tube bender which can be quickly and expeditiously operated by a single workman for forming a predetermined offset configuration in the tubing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Tube bending mechanisms are well known in the art, but heretofore there has not been provided a simple lightweight mechanism for quickly and expeditiously providing offset configurations of tubing for use as for instance in the plumbing and electrical trades. US. Pat. No. 1,216,610 dated Feb. 20, 1917 to H. Rosenbaum discloses a portable work bench having a tube or pipe bender mechanism associated therewith. However, such arrangement discloses no means for rapidly providing a predetermined offset to tubing. US. Pat. No. 2,609,859 dated Sept. 9, 1952 discloses a method and apparatus for bending large diameter pipe, but such machine is of large and complicated construction and operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a novel method and mechanism for bending tubing and the like, wherein the mechanism is operable by a single workman to quickly and expeditiously provide a preselected offset configuration to the tubing, and as controlled by the operator of the mechanism. The bender is of a nature that it is readily portable and may be expeditiously adjusted by an operator to provide the desired offset configuration to the tubing being bent.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a novel tube bender mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel tube bender mechanism which includes a pivotal arm with a tube bender shoe mounted thereon and a support stand portion with another tube bender shoe mounted thereon, and with the tubing being adapted to be deformed into a preselected offset configuration upon operation of the bender by the operator, and wherein novel means is provided for visually indicating to the operator the selected offset.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel tube bender of the latter type which includes adjustable stop means for indicating when the desired offset bend in the tubing has been obtained, and preventing further bending of the tubing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel tube bender mechanism which includes means for expeditiously bending different sizes of tubing for forming a preselected offset configuration in the tubing.

' A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel method for offset bending of tubing.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevational, generally diagrammatic illustration of a section of tubing which has been bent into a preselected offset configuration by the mechanism and method of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational, partially broken view of the tube bending mechanism of the invention and illustrating with phantom lines the adjustability of the stop mechanism of the bender, for preventing further bending of the tubing when the selected offset in the tubing has been obtained; FIG. 2 illustrates the linear tubing section as first inserted into the forward bending shoe and with the pivotal lever of the bender being shown in raised condition;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view generally similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating the bending of the tubing upon downward pivotal movement of the lever and associated secondary bending shoe of the mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the completion of the offset bending operation of the tubing when the secondary bending shoe on the lever has been pivoted downwardly a sufficient amount to cause contact of the rearward portion of the tubing section with the bending stop, as positioned on the mechanism by the operator;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the mechanism of FIG. 2 taken generally along the plane of line 5-5 thereof looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of another embodiment of the tube bender mechanism, adapted for bending different diameters of tubing;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view taken generally along the plane of line 7-7 of FIG. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of the tube bender mechanism of FIGS. 6 and 7 and taken generally along the plane of line 8-8 of FIG. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the bender shoes mounted on the pivotal lever of the bender mechanism, and taken generally along the plane of line 9-9 of FIG. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the plane of line I0l0 of FIG. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The tube bender mechanism comprises a portable stand 10, including an elongated body portion 12 and leg portions 16 secured thereto, and depending therefrom. The leg portions 16 may be rigidified by means of braces 18 extending between the leg portions and the body portion 12. A post 20 may project upwardly from the body portion and mounts a tube bending shoe 22 thereon in a fixed relation with respect to the post 12.

Bender shoe 22 may be of more or less conventional construction having a lip 24, which is adapted to par tially encompass the end of the tubing section T and a semi-circular grooved portion 26 (FIG. 5) in which nests the tubing to be bent into the desired offset configuration. Slot 260 (FIG. 2) communicates groove portion 26 with the exterior side of shoe 22 in the conventional manner. FIG. 1 illustrates a piece of the tubing T which has been bent by the mechanism into the offset configuration, and having generally linear end portions T1 and T2 connected by diagonal portion T3, to form the aforementioned offset configuration of tubmg.

Pivoted to the post20, and as at 28, may be a lever portion 30 which isadapted to be pivoted by the workman from a raised position, as shown for instance in FIG. 2 to downwardly lowered position, as shown for instance in FIGS. 3 and 4. Secured to the lever 30 and as by means of a fastener 32, is another tube bending shoe 34 which again has a concave semi-circular recess 36 formed therein for engaging the tubing, and causing bending thereof into the desired offset configuration.

Shoe 34 is preferably adjustably mounted on lever 30 as by means of elongated slot 38 formed in the lever 30, and through which the aforementioned fastener 32 coacts, for fastening the bender shoe 34 in preselected position with respect to the pivotal. axis 28 of lever 30. It will be understood that by loosening fastener 32, the bender shoe 34 can bemoved lengthwise of lever 30.

Mounted on the body portion 12 in rearwardly spaced relation to the forward and auxiliary bender shoes 22 and 34 is a heel member 42. Heel member 42 may include an adjustable jack 44 which may be quickly actuated as by means of operator 44a, to move the heel mechanism upwardly or downwardly with respect to the body portion 12 of the mechanism. Heel mechanism 42 includes a head 46 which in.the embodiment illustrated is in the form of V-type configuration in end elevation (FIGS. 3 and for receiving therein in supported relation the tubing that is to be bent into offset configuration. Head 46 is preferably attached to the extensible portion 48 of. the jack 44 by means of a ball socket connection 50 which has a frictional connection with portion 48, so that the head 46 tends to remain in whatever position it is moved to, but wherein said head can be universally moved relative to portion 48, to adjust the position of the head 46.

As can be readily seen from FIGS. 2 through 4, the heel mechanism 42 is disposed obliquely with respect to the'body portion 12, so that the head 46 will ordinarily be disposed in generally parallel relation to the tubing T that is to be bent into an offset configuration (FIG. 2). Heel mechanism 42 may be reinforced to the body 12 by means of bracket 52. Disposed just below the head portion 46 is a stop bracket 56 which projects outwardly in fixed relation from portion 48 of the heel mechanism, and which includes a top generally planar surface 56a.which is disposed in parallel extending relation with respect to the tubing T in the unbent condition of the latter, as inserted into the front bender shoe 22, and as shown in FIG.2.

. Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 4, it will be seen that initially the tubing section T that is to be formed into an offset configurationjs inserted under the lip 24 of the front bending shoe 22 and from whence it projects diagonally upwardly therefrom. The lever 30 with the auxiliary bender shoe 34 mounted thereon is pivoted downwardly by the workman whereupon the bending shoe 34 'engages the tubing and causes it to be bent downwardly about front shoe 22 until the rearward end of the tubing section T engages in the V head 46, and as shown for instance in FIG. 3. Further downward pivotal movement of the lever 30 and attached bender shoe 34 causes the offset T3 (FIG. 1) to be formed in the tubing and the operator knows that when the tubing section T2 engages the top generally flat surface 56a of stopper bracket 56-that the desired offset has been obtained. In such condition, the forward and rearward portions T1, T2 of the tubing section being worked upon are disposed in generally parallel extending relation and are connected by means of the diagonal portion T3 of the tubing section. By adjusting the jack or heel mechanism 42 as by means of jack actuator 44a it will be seen that the amount of offset can be selectively varied. However, irrespective of the positioning of'the heel mechanism, the stopper plate surface 56a remains substantially parallel to the direction of extension of the tubing section T when it is first inserted into the front bender shoe 22. It will be understood that by lowering the heel mechanism 42, the amount of ofi'set between portion T1 and T2 of the tubing being worked upon will be increased, and by raising the heel mechanism 42, the amount of offset will be decreased. Preferably portion 48 of the jack 44 has series of markings 60 formed thereon which are readily visible to the operator so that the operator can readily adjust the extension of the heel mechanism to provide the desired offset of the tubing section being worked upon. In other words, the operator by actuating the actuator 44 a to the position shown in FIG. 2, will cause a six inch offset to be formed between tubing portions T1 and T2. If the jack portion 48 is lowered so that the number 8 would align with the housing portion 62 of the jack, then an offset of 8 inches would be provided between tubing sections T1 and T2, and so on.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the lever portion 30 is preferably provided with a removable handle 64 which is diagonally disposed or oriented with respect to the remainder of the lever, so that when the lever is lowered from its raised position to its lowered position, there will be no interference occurring between the lever and the remainder of the bending mechanism. As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, when the tubing is bent from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4, the head 46 due to its movable connection 50 to portion 48 of the jack, moves while bender shoe 34 puts a bend in the tubing section T.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 through 10, there is shown another embodiment of the invention wherein different diameters of tubing may be expeditiously handled by the mechanism. This embodiment may be generally similar to that of the first described embodiment and thus includes stand portion 10' which comprises a body portion 12' and leg portions 16' which may i be rigidified as by means of bracket structure 18'. In this embodiment the post 20' projecting upwardly from the body portion 12' is angled rearwardly (FIG. 6) so that the tubing does not extend upwardly with respect to the horizontal in as great an angular relationship as in the first described embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, there is provided two sets of bending shoes mounted on post 20'. One of the shoes 22' is adapted for instance to bend 36 inch diameter tubing while the other shoe 22" is adapted to bend for instance k inch diameter tubing.

. Each of bending shoes 22' and 22" includes the conventional lip 24' for receiving in generally encompassing relation the associated tubing that is to be bent into an offset configuration, and in a manner similar to that aforedescribed in connection with the first embodiment of the invention. Likewise, the pivotal lever 30' has a pair of secondary bending shoes 34', 34" secured thereto, and preferably adjustably secured thereto, similarly to the first described embodiment, and as by means of fastener 32' coacting with an elon- The heel mechanism 42' is generally similar to the first described embodiment except that it includes a pair of preferably movable head members 46' attached to the extensible portion 48 of the heel mechanism so that the selected tubing size to be bent into the desired offset configuration will engage the respective head portion 46 of the heel mechanism. The operation of the FIGS. 6 through 10 embodiment is generally similar to that of the first described embodiment with the respective tubing diameter section that is to be bent into offset configuration being inserted into proper forward bending shoe 22 or 22" and the lever is pivoted downwardly until the section T3 of the tubing being worked upon engages the top surface 56a of the respective stopper plate 56. It will be noted that in this embodiment, the pivotal lever portion 30' has been pivoted to the right hand side, (as viewed in FIG. 7,) of the bender mechanism as compared to the first embodiment wherein the lever is pivoted to the left hand side. In other respects, the FIGS. 6 through 10 embodiment are generally similar to those of the first described embodiment. It will be understood that two pieces of tubing can be bent into an offset configuration at the same time.

From the foregoing discussion and accompanying drawings, it will be seen that the invention provides a novel lightweight tube bending mechanism and method for expeditiously and quickly providing offset tubing sections for use in, for instance, the electrical and plumbing trades, and wherein the bender mechanism can be readily operated by a single workman, and by movement of a single pivotal handle or lever to provide the desired offset configuration to the tubing. A stopper plate is provided for positively limiting the amount of offset bent into the tubing and means is provided on an extensible and retractable jack for visually indicating to the workman the desired offset to be accomplished upon downwardly pivotal motion of the pivotal lever. The jack is adjustable so that different degrees or sizes of offset can be quickly and readily provided so that the bender mechanism can be set up for quickly providing different offset ranges of tubing. The mechanism is simple to operate and economical to manufacture and is readily portable by a single workman.

The terms and expressions which have been used are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and

there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of any of the features shown or described, or portions thereof, and it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

lclaim:

1. In a compact portable mechanism for bending tubing and the like comprising, a support, a bender shoe fixed to the support and adapted to receive therein in holding relation a tubing section to be bent, means pivoted for movement in a generally vertical plane and with respect to the support for engaging the tubing rearwardly of said bender shoe for bending the tubing downwardly about said shoe, means disposed rearwardly of said first mentioned means for engaging and supporting the tubing at a preselected vertical position, and means for positively stopping further bending of the tubing by said first mentioned means to create a predetermined offset configuration in the tubing section, the application of bending pressure by said first mentioned means to the tubing section being adapted to be applied to said tubing section intermediate said shoe and the second mentioned means.

2. A mechanism in accordance with claim I wherein said stopping means and said second mentioned means are adjustable for providing difieren't ranges of offset tubing configuration.

3. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein said stopping means includes a stopper plate tipped forwardly with respect to the horizontal for positively stopping further bending of the tubing by the first mentioned means when the tubing is forced into engagement with the stopper plate by said first mentioned means, said stopper plate extending lengthwise generally parallel to the tubing section when the latter is initially inserted into said shoe, said first mentioned means overlying at least part of said plate in engaged relation with the tubing in the complete condition of the offset tubing section, and preventing further downward pivotal movement of said first mentioned means with respect to said support.

4. A mechanism in accordance with claim 2 including jack means mounting said stopping means and said second mentioned means thereon, said jack means comprising indicia thereon for indicating to a workman the size of offset configuration of tubing that will be provided upon operation of the mechanism.

5. A mechanism in accordance with claim 2 wherein said second mentioned means includes a V-shaped head portion and said stopping means comprises a plate disposed at a generally lower level than said head portion.

6. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 including a plurality of bender shoes mounted on said support and said first mentioned means comprises a plurality of complementary bending shoes each of which is adapted for coaction with a respective bender shoe on said support whereby tubing of various diameters can be expeditiously bent into offset configuration by said mechanism.

7. A mechanism in accordance with claim 2 including means for adjusting the position of said first mentioned means with respect to said bender shoe on said support.

8. A method of providing a tubing section with a predetermined offset comprising holding a section of tubing at one end thereof by means of a lipped convex bender shoe mounted on a support, applying pivotal downward pressure to the tubing section at a location rearwardly of said one end by a convex bender shoe overlying the tubing to initiate a bend in said tubing section, engaging and supporting the tubing rearwardly of the location of application of pressure by the second mentioned bending shoe, so as to cause bending of the tubing intermediate the location of holding and the location of engaging and supporting, and continuing the bending of the tubing to a predetermined stop abutment point whereby the tubing is oriented in bent offset configuration havinggenerally parallel end sections and a diagonal intermediate connecting section.

pressure to the tubing by the second mentioned bender I shoe and with respect to the location of holding of the tubing by the first mentioned bender shoe, to change the degree of offset of the tubing.

l l. A mechanism in accordance with claim 3 including obliquely extending jack means mounting said stopper plate an said second mentioned means thereon,

said stopper plate being disposed forwardly of and slightly below the level of said second mentioned means, adjustment of said jack means providing for changing the size of offset of the tubing, said bender shoe including a forward lip for partially encompassing the tubing section at the location of holding thereof and a rearwardly extending convex grooved portion adapted to nest the tubing therein, said first mentioned means comprising a further bender shoe having a lengthwise extending convex grooved portion adapted to receive therein the tubing upon predetermined downward pivotal movement of said further bender shoe, said further bender shoe being mounted on a lever pivoted to said support and providing for said pivotal movement thereof in said vertical plane, and means for selectively adjusting the location of said further bender shoe on said lever lengthwise thereof, and with'respect to the first mentioned bender shoe.

I i I 

1. In a compact portable mechanism for bending tubing and the like comprising, a support, a bender shoe fixed to the support and adapted to receive therein in holding relation a tubing section to be bent, means pivoted for movement in a generally vertical plane and with respect to the support for engaging the tubing rearwardly of said bender shoe for bending the tubing downwardly about said shoe, means disposed rearwardly of said first mentioned means for engaging and supporting the tubing at a preselected vertical position, and means for positively stopping further bending of the tubing by said first mentioned means to create a predetermined offset configuration in the tubing section, the application of bending pressure by said first mentioned means to the tubing section being adapted to be applied to said tubing section intermediate said shoe and the second mentioned means.
 2. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein said stopping means and said second mentioned means are adjustable for providing different ranges of offset tubing configuration.
 3. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein said stopping means includes a stopper plate tipped forwardly with respect to the horizontal for positively stopping further bending of the tubing by the first mentioned means when the tubing is forced into engagement with the stopper plate by said first mentioned means, said stopper plate extending lengthwise generally parallel to the tubing section when the latter is initially inserted into said shoe, said first mentioned means overlying at least part of said plate in engaged relation with the tubing in the complete condition of the offset tubing section, and preventing further downward pivotal movement of said first mentioned means with respect to said support.
 4. A mechanism in accordance with claim 2 including jack means mounting said stopping means and said second mentioned means thereon, said jack means comprising indicia thereon for indicating to a workman the size of offset configuration of tubing that will be provided upon operation of the mechanism.
 5. A mechanism in accordance with claim 2 wherein said second mentioned means includes a V-shaped head portion and said stopping means comprises a plate disposed at a generally lower level than saId head portion.
 6. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 including a plurality of bender shoes mounted on said support and said first mentioned means comprises a plurality of complementary bending shoes each of which is adapted for coaction with a respective bender shoe on said support whereby tubing of various diameters can be expeditiously bent into offset configuration by said mechanism.
 7. A mechanism in accordance with claim 2 including means for adjusting the position of said first mentioned means with respect to said bender shoe on said support.
 8. A method of providing a tubing section with a predetermined offset comprising holding a section of tubing at one end thereof by means of a lipped convex bender shoe mounted on a support, applying pivotal downward pressure to the tubing section at a location rearwardly of said one end by a convex bender shoe overlying the tubing to initiate a bend in said tubing section, engaging and supporting the tubing rearwardly of the location of application of pressure by the second mentioned bending shoe, so as to cause bending of the tubing intermediate the location of holding and the location of engaging and supporting, and continuing the bending of the tubing to a predetermined stop abutment point whereby the tubing is oriented in bent offset configuration having generally parallel end sections and a diagonal intermediate connecting section.
 9. A method in accordance with claim 8 including the step of adjusting the location of engaging and supporting of the tubing with respect to the location of holding of the tubing so as to change the amount of bending of the tubing occurring prior to engagement of the tubing with said stop abutment point.
 10. A method in accordance with claim 9 including adjusting the location of the application of bending pressure to the tubing by the second mentioned bender shoe and with respect to the location of holding of the tubing by the first mentioned bender shoe, to change the degree of offset of the tubing.
 11. A mechanism in accordance with claim 3 including obliquely extending jack means mounting said stopper plate an said second mentioned means thereon, said stopper plate being disposed forwardly of and slightly below the level of said second mentioned means, adjustment of said jack means providing for changing the size of offset of the tubing, said bender shoe including a forward lip for partially encompassing the tubing section at the location of holding thereof and a rearwardly extending convex grooved portion adapted to nest the tubing therein, said first mentioned means comprising a further bender shoe having a lengthwise extending convex grooved portion adapted to receive therein the tubing upon predetermined downward pivotal movement of said further bender shoe, said further bender shoe being mounted on a lever pivoted to said support and providing for said pivotal movement thereof in said vertical plane, and means for selectively adjusting the location of said further bender shoe on said lever lengthwise thereof, and with respect to the first mentioned bender shoe. 